A document printer including an aligner mechanism for aligning a document within said printer

摘要

A document printer is provided having an aligner mechanism (24) for aligning a document (18) in said printer having a slot defined by first and second walls (20,22). The aligner mechanism (24) comprises first and second control sleeves (40,42) which are keyed to first and second end portions (36,38), respectively, of a first shaft (30) arranged to rotate between first and second positions. First and second levers (52,58) are pivotally mounted on the shaft adjacent to the first and second control sleeves (40,42), respectively, for pivotal movement. The aligner mechanism (24) also includes an aligner bar (44) having first and second leg portions (46,48) secured to the first and second control sleeves (40,42), respectively. The first and second levers (52,58) have projections (70,72) thereon which cooperate with slots (71,73) in the first and second control sleeves (40,42) respectively, to provide a lost motion coupling therebetween. The levers support a second shaft (26-1) which carry pinch rollers (26), each of which cooperate with a corresponding drive roller (28), and form a gripper means (26,28,52,58) for transporting said document therebetween. During movement of the first shaft (30) between the first and second positions, the aligner bar (44) engages the first wall (20), and thereafter, movement of the first shaft (30) resiliently biases the alignment bar (44) against the first wall (20), and cause the levers (52,58) to rotate thereby opening the gripper means (26,28), permitting an edge of said document to be aligned with said aligner bar (44). During movement of the first shaft (30) from the second position to the first position, causes the gripper means (26,28) to close, thereby gripping said document, and causes the aligner bar (44) to move away from the first wall (20).